Friday 4th March

Please read Psalm 22 & Hebrews 7:11-28…

The focus of our readings today is the work of our great High Priest in accomplishing for humanity an Exodus from the slavery of sin into the freedom of the children of God.

Psalm 22 uses some vivid phrases that foretell the sufferings of Christ…

“My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me…” (v16)
“They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing…” (v18)
But the Psalm also glimpses the end of the story: “The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the the families of the nations will bow down before him.” (v27)

In Hebrews 7 the writer speaks of Jesus as a new kind of priest who exercises his ministry by the power of an endless life. “There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts for ever. Therefore he is able, once and forever to save those who come to God through him. He lives for ever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (v23-25)

His sacrifice never needs to be repeated. “Unlike other high priests he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as a sacrifice for the people’s sins.” (v27)

In honour of Joan of Arc the villagers of Domremy her birthplace, could bring their tax bills and
have written across their bill – ‘cancelled for the sake of the Maid.’ Thank God that because Jesus our High Priest has cancelled the debt we owe to God on account of our sins, we can see written across our bill in his blood, ‘cancelled for the sake of the Master.’